Some Apple subcontractors can listen to your conversations with Siri

Apple would not be as close to confidentiality as it claims. Employees would have access to audio files recorded by the wizard, including private conversations. 

Confidentiality is one of the communication lines of Apple for many years. The American firm makes a point of highlighting its security and encryption systems, supposed to protect the personal data of its customers.

Accidental recordings revealing very intimate details of users' lives

However, Apple would not be as cautious as it would like to believe. The Guardian was able to interview Apple's subcontractors to listen to audio clips recorded by the Siri Voice Assistant for analysis and service improvement. 

Normally, the voice assistant will only start when the user has spoken the phrase "  Dis Siri &, nbsp;". But on the Apple Watch, where to lift the wrist is enough to activate the wizard, where on the Homepod, the connected speaker installed in the lounges, it is not uncommon for Siri to be triggered by accident and let his ears hang from long seconds to the

Subcontractors then have access to very intimate conversations, as one of them explains: "  Sometimes you hear a doctor talking about a patient's medical history. Or you can hear someone, with an engine sound in the background, drug dealer. And you can also listen to people making love, who accidentally register on the HomePod or watch. "

Apple must react quickly to stay in step with its main principles

If Apple sends these audio files anonymously to its partners, the listened to people often mention names or addresses that identify them or their relatives. 

According to Apple, all requests made to Siri are kept for six months for the automatic learning of the assistant. Another copy is kept for two years this time, but is not linked to any Apple account, and may be subject to human listening. Google proceeds in exactly the same way with its Google Assistant.

The only way to avoid these problems, without stopping all service improvement procedures, would be for Siri to fire less accidentally, only when the user has decided. 

Apple has no choice but to react as quickly as possible, so as not to see its white knightly image of confidentiality seriously damaged by this affair.